Maduka Okoye’s late save helped Udinese avoid defeat against Cremonense.
Maduka Okoye has returned from his betting ban with a bang, helping Udinese avoid defeat against Cremonese with a big save late in the game.
Filippo Terracciano’s early header was cancelled out by Nicolò Zaniolo’s second-half header as Cremonese and Udinese played out a 1–1 draw at the Giovanni Zini.
Key Match Details
Cremonese made the perfect start. In the 4th minute Jari Vandeputte swung in a left-side set-piece delivery that found Filippo Terracciano, who rose at the near post and nodded the ball home from close range to put the hosts ahead.
The strike gave Cremonese an early foothold in the contest. Cremonese pushed for more, Federico Bonazzoli and Franco Vázquez both went close and even hit the woodwork as the hosts searched for a second, but Udinese held on to a slender interval deficit.
Udinese adjusted after the break and were rewarded for their persistence shortly after the hour. In the 51st minute Alessandro Zanoli broke forward and delivered a precise cross from the right; Nicolò Zaniolo met it with a firm header from the left side of the six-yard box that flew into the top-right corner to make it 1–1.
From that point the match opened up into a tense final half hour. Both sides made tactical switches: Udinese brought on fresh legs to press for more; Cremonese introduced attackers including Jamie Vardy to test the visitors’ backline, but clear-cut chances were at a premium.
Vardy came close to winning it at the death when he was released through on goal, but Okoye, returning for his first game since the betting ban, charged out and saved the attempt.
With Stanley Nwabali’s recent underperformance in goal for the Super Eagles, Maduka’s return could provide the necessary second option for Eric Chelle.
